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Brooklyn Rail Inc

EIN 11-3562004 · Brooklyn, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

POLITICS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY AND FAR BEYOND. ITS JOURNAL, IN ADDITION TO FEATURING LOCAL REPORTING, CRITICISM OF MUSIC, DANCE, FILM, THEATER, ORIGINAL FICTION AND POETRY, COVERS CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ART IN PARTICULAR DEPTH. IN ORDER TO DEMOCRATIZE ITS ARTS COVERAGE, THE CRITICS PAGE FUNCTIONS WITH A ROTATING EDITORSHIP. THE RAIL FURTHER FULFILLS ITS MISSION BY CURATING ART EXHIBITIONS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, READING SERIES, AND FILM SCREENINGS THAT REFLECT THE COMPLEXITY AND INTEVENTIVENESS OF THE CITY'S ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPE.

Income
$2.8 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
14.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
22
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$74,843, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $1.1 million spent. PRINTING AND PUBLISHING THE JOURNAL (CURRENTLY PUBLISHED 10 TIMES ANNUALLY), THE JOURNAL, IN ADDITION TO FEATURING LOCAL REPORTING CRITICISM OF MUSIC, DANCE, FILM, THEATER, ORIGINAL FICTION AND POETRY, COVERS CONTEMPORARY VISUAL ART IN PARTICULAR DEPTH. BROOKLYN RAIL DISTRIBUTES ITS JOURNAL FREE OF CHARGE AROUND NEW YORK CITY AND SHIPS TO A GROWING LIST OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIBERS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2001.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.